How are food trends started?

They are often started by influencers and chefs.

Food trends

are influenced by a wide range of factors, from fashion and pop culture to health fads. Sometimes they are created by chefs, often in the world of haute cuisine, and then other restaurateurs imitate and reuse them. Sometimes, it's a consultant or distributor who works with a big brand to develop a product that fills the gaps in a food company's menu, whether it's a new drink or a salad dressing.

Companies monitor trends, measure them, track them and report on them, making it easier for other companies to jump on the bandwagon. While drive-in theaters disappeared, fast food chains continued to spread across the country and restaurants were more dependent on prepared meals. As people want more natural and fresh food or to support a community, farm-to-table food has become a major trend. The USDA announces the details of a “framework” for transforming the food system; one that is based on the lessons learned by the pandemic and the disruptions in the food supply chain caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Early-stage trends tend to start in haute cuisine establishments and in independent ethnic restaurants or markets, where food is considered unique in the way it is prepared, presented and tasted.